Shopsmith Forums

My Growth Rings addresses quill play in the follow up video about the Shopsmith Biscuit Joiner (visible for 1 week): https://youtu.be/rDNq_kR_9nI?si=hL2NjCz0XPNctC43&t=196

He mentions the older single bearing quill and the play on the extended quill. It's also applicable to the quill in Drill Press mode as it's used for the Biscuit Joiner that requires pushing against the spindle. The quill would be locked in that mode but in any similar operation such as routing or shaping any play in the bearings can be a factor in proper alignment.

I believe there are two things here to remember. There is quill shaft play related to the bearings. There is quill housing play related to the fit in the head stock. Eliminating/reducing one will not eliminate/reduce the other.

And they are additive.

We can distinguish between the potential sources of freeplay by observation and/or measuring technique. My freeplay comes from the fit between the quill housing/barrel and headstock. Contribution by the fit of the spindle and bearings inside the quill assembly is under 0.001". I understand this may vary with bad bearings, a single bearing quill, and possibly based on which version of two bearing quill is in use. The fit of the quill to the headstock is inherently less precise. Freeplay that results from that fit appears to me to be unavoidable. We can be aware of it and minimize it when we feel it is appropriate.

It would be great to know the tolerance for this, I'm sure that the headstock bore can be 'too loose.' I'm concerned mine may be excessive at full extension, as it exceeds that reported by CreekWood by 2X.

- David

Really interesting video discussing how replacing bearings on an old Mark V and a NEW Mark 7 reduced quill runout (retracted) to zero. Maybe it is a worn bearing issue??

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEFFYw29yV4